Beverage forming apparatus with cartridge detectors

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for controlling operation of a beverage forming machine arranged for use with cartridges of different types, or receiving an upwardly flowing beverage from a cartridge. A beverage outlet may be movable to receive beverage from a cartridge of a first type, and to not receive beverage from a cartridge of a second type. Different cartridge characteristics may be detected by multiple detectors, e.g., for detecting a presence/absence of a cartridge, a cartridge type and/or an authorization feature.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention relates to beverage forming systems, such as coffeebrewers that use a liquid to form a coffee beverage.

2. Related Art

Beverage forming systems that use a liquid, such as water, to form abeverage are well known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,361,527 disclosesa beverage forming system that uses a beverage cartridge containing abeverage material to make a beverage by introducing liquid into thecartridge. Liquid provided to the cartridge may be heated in a tankprior to delivery to the cartridge.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

Aspects of the invention relate to methods and apparatus for usingcartridges of different size and/or shape in a beverage forming machine.For example, in some embodiments, a cartridge holder may be arranged toreceive and support cartridges that have different sizes, e.g., circularrims of different diameters, and/or that have different shapes, e.g.,one cartridge may have a circular rim while another cartridge may have arim with an irregular shape, without the user having to manipulate anadapter or other component of the cartridge holder. In one embodiment,the cartridge holder may include two or more beverage inlets or outletsthat can be selectively employed based on a cartridge received in thecartridge holder. Thus, a user may simply place cartridges havingdifferent sizes or shapes in the cartridge holder without having to takeany specific action to configure the machine to interact with thecartridges.

In an aspect of the invention, a beverage forming machine may providewater or other fluid to different cartridges, and/or may receivebeverage from different cartridges, using different inlet and/or outletports. For example, a first cartridge may receive water from an inletport that pierces a top lid of the cartridge, and beverage may exit thecartridge to an outlet port that also pierces the top lid of thecartridge (though in a different location than the inlet port). However,a second cartridge held by the same cartridge holder may receive waterfrom an inlet port that pierces the cartridge at a different location(such as the bottom of the cartridge as opposed to the top), and/orbeverage may exit the second cartridge to an outlet port that piercesthe cartridge at a different location (such as the bottom of thecartridge). For example, in one aspect of the invention, inflow of waterinto a first cartridge may be downwardly into the cartridge, whilebeverage outflow is upwardly from the cartridge. In contrast, inflow ofwater into a second cartridge may be downwardly into the cartridge, butbeverage outflow may be downwardly from the second cartridge. Thus,inflow and/or outflow for different cartridges may occur in differentrelative places and/or directions.

In one embodiment, a first cartridge may be pierced in two locations ata top lid for inlet and outlet openings, respectively. Water or otherfluid may be introduced into the cartridge in a downward directionthrough the inlet opening, and beverage may exit the cartridge in anupward direction through the outlet opening. In contrast, a secondcartridge may be pierced in one location at the top lid for an inletopening, and pierced at a location below the lid, e.g., at a bottom ofthe cartridge, for an outlet opening. Thus, water or other fluid may beintroduced into the cartridge in a downward direction through the inletopening, and beverage may exit the cartridge in a downward directionthrough the outlet opening. Such different flows may be accommodated bya single cartridge holder which can not only accommodate differentlysized and/or shaped cartridges, but also different flow arrangements forfluid into and beverage out of the cartridges.

In one aspect of the invention, a beverage forming apparatus includes aframe arranged to support components of the beverage forming apparatus,and a cartridge holder having an opening arranged to engage with acartridge placed in the opening and support a weight of the cartridge.The cartridge holder also includes a first beverage outlet arranged toreceive beverage from a cartridge held by the cartridge holder, with thefirst beverage outlet being movable relative to the opening betweenfirst and second positions based on a size and/or shape of a cartridgeheld by the cartridge holder. For example, the first beverage outlet maybe arranged to not receive beverage from a cartridge in the firstposition, and be arranged to receive beverage from a cartridge in thesecond position. In some arrangements, the first beverage outlet may bepositioned outside of a cartridge receiving area of the cartridge holderin the first position, and the first beverage outlet may be positionedwithin a cartridge receiving area of the cartridge holder in the secondposition. A cover may be arranged to cooperate with the cartridge holderto at least partially enclose a cartridge held by the cartridge holderfor formation of a beverage using the cartridge, and a liquid supplysystem may be arranged to provide a liquid for combination with abeverage medium in a cartridge held by the cartridge holder to form abeverage.

In some embodiments, the first beverage outlet may be moved from thesecond position to the first position by a cartridge contacting andmoving the first beverage outlet as the cartridge is placed in thecartridge holder. For example, upon placement of a cartridge into thecartridge holder, the first beverage outlet may be positioned in asecond position in a cartridge receiving area. However, the cartridgemay contact the first beverage outlet and move the first beverage outletfrom the second position to a first position outside of a cartridgereceiving area.

In some embodiments, the cartridge holder may be arranged to receivefirst and second cartridges that are differently sized and/or shapedrelative to each other in a region where the cartridge holder engageswith the first and second cartridges. For example, the cartridges mayhave a different size and/or shape near a rim of the cartridges wherethe cartridge holder engages with the cartridges. The first beverageoutlet may be positioned in the first position with the first cartridgereceived in the cartridge holder, and positioned in the second positionwith the second cartridge received in the cartridge holder. In somecases, a second beverage outlet may receive beverage from the secondcartridge since the first beverage outlet is positioned to not receivebeverage. Alternately, beverage may exit from the second cartridgedirectly to a user's cup or other container, or to another beverage flowpath.

In one embodiment, the cartridge holder may include a trigger that ismounted for movement relative to the opening, and movement of thetrigger may move the first beverage outlet between the first and secondpositions. For example, the trigger may include a slidable element thatis moved when contacted by a cartridge of a particular type, e.g.,contact with a spout of a first cartridge may slide the trigger and movethe first beverage outlet from the second position to the firstposition. With the second cartridge received by the cartridge holder,the trigger may remain stationary relative to the opening such that thefirst beverage outlet is in the second position to receive beverage fromthe second cartridge, e.g., the first beverage outlet may pierce thesecond cartridge to allow beverage to exit.

In one embodiment, the cover includes a liquid inlet to introduce liquidfrom the liquid supply system to a cartridge held in the cartridgeholder. Also, in some cases, the cover may include a second beverageoutlet to receive beverage exiting a cartridge held in the cartridgeholder. The liquid inlet and the first and second beverage outlets mayeach include a piercing element to pierce a cartridge, such as a needle.The piercing elements of the liquid inlet and the second beverage outletmay face downwardly, and the first beverage outlet may face upwardlywith the cover in a closed position to at least partially enclose acartridge. That is, the cover may be movable relative to the cartridgeholder between an open position in which the cartridge holder is exposedto receive a cartridge into the opening, and a closed position in whichthe cover cooperates with the cartridge holder to at least partiallyenclose a cartridge held by the cartridge holder.

In some embodiments, the cartridge holder may be arranged to receive afirst cartridge having a circular rim, and a second cartridge having arim with a partially circular portion and a spout section extendingoutwardly from the partially circular portion. A trigger of thecartridge holder may be arranged to interact with the spout section ofthe second cartridge, and a linkage may be connected to the trigger andoperable to cause movement of the first beverage outlet between thefirst and second positions based on movement of the trigger.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for forming a beverageusing a beverage forming apparatus includes providing a beverage formingapparatus having a cartridge holder with an opening and arranged toengage with and support a cartridge placed in the opening of thecartridge holder. A first or second cartridge is provided into theopening of the cartridge holder, with the first and second cartridgesbeing differently sized and/or shaped relative to each other in a regionwhere the cartridge holder engages with the first and second cartridges.A first beverage outlet is moved relative to the opening based onwhether the first or second cartridge is provided into the opening, andliquid is combined with a beverage medium in the first or secondcartridge held by the cartridge holder to form a beverage. Beverage isreceived from the cartridge at the first beverage outlet if the secondcartridge is held by the cartridge holder, and not received from thecartridge at the first beverage outlet if the first cartridge is held bythe cartridge holder. In one embodiment, the first cartridge includes aspout portion, and the step of moving the first beverage outlet includesmoving the first beverage outlet to a first position if the firstcartridge is placed in the cartridge holder. For example, the step ofmoving may include sliding a trigger based on contact of the triggerwith the spout portion, with sliding of the trigger causing movement ofthe first beverage outlet to the first position. In contrast, when asecond cartridge is placed in the cartridge holder, the step of movingmay include allowing the first beverage outlet to remain in a secondposition, e.g., to pierce the second cartridge and receive beverage fromthe second cartridge.

In one embodiment, the method includes moving a cover to at leastpartially enclose a cartridge held by the cartridge holder, and the stepof combining liquid may include introducing liquid from a liquid inletof the cover into the cartridge held by the cartridge holder. The stepof receiving beverage may include receiving beverage at a secondbeverage outlet attached to the cover if the first cartridge is held bythe cartridge holder.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage forming apparatusincludes a frame arranged to support components of the beverage formingapparatus, and a cartridge holder arranged to hold a cartridge duringformation of a beverage using the cartridge. An inlet may be arranged todirect fluid into a cartridge held by the cartridge holder in a downwarddirection, and a first beverage outlet may be arranged to receivebeverage from a cartridge held by the cartridge holder such that flow ofbeverage from the cartridge to the first beverage outlet is in an upwarddirection. Downward movement of fluid into the cartridge and/or upwardmovement of beverage from the cartridge need not be along a perfectlyvertical line, but rather may have some horizontal component as well asa vertical component. Thus, flow along a line that is 45 degrees tovertical may be said to be downward (or upward). A liquid supply systemmay be arranged to provide a liquid for combination with a beveragemedium in a cartridge held by the cartridge holder to form a beverage,e.g., the liquid supply may provide heated or cooled water or otherliquid to the cartridge.

In one embodiment, a cover may be arranged to cooperate with thecartridge holder to at least partially enclose a cartridge held by thecartridge holder for formation of a beverage using the cartridge. Theinlet and first beverage outlet may be mounted to the cover, e.g.,including respective piercing elements depending from the cover topierce the cartridge. The piercing elements may form respective openingin a cartridge, e.g., in a lid of the cartridge, and in someembodiments, the beverage outlet opening formed in the cartridge may bepositioned below the fluid inlet opening. As in some of the embodimentsdiscussed above, the cartridge holder may be arranged to receive andengage with first and second cartridges having a different size and/orshape in a region where the cartridge holder engages with thecartridges. Also, the cartridge holder may include a second beverageoutlet that is movable relative to the opening between first and secondpositions based on a size and/or shape of a cartridge held by thecartridge holder. For example, the second beverage outlet may bearranged to not receive beverage from a cartridge in the first position,and may be arranged to receive beverage from a cartridge in the secondposition. In one example, the first beverage outlet may be arranged toreceive beverage from a first cartridge placed in the cartridge holder,and the second beverage outlet may be arranged to receive beverage froma second cartridge placed in the cartridge holder. When a firstcartridge is placed in the cartridge holder, the second beverage outletmay be moved out of a cartridge receiving area.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for forming a beverageusing a beverage forming apparatus includes providing a beverage formingapparatus having a cartridge holder arranged to engage with and supporta cartridge placed in the cartridge holder. A cartridge may be providedin the cartridge holder, and fluid may be introduced into the cartridgein the cartridge holder to form a beverage. The fluid may be introducedinto the cartridge in a downward direction, and beverage which flows inan upward direction while exiting from the cartridge may be receivedfrom the cartridge in the cartridge holder. In one embodiment, themethod also includes moving a cover to at least partially enclose acartridge held by the cartridge holder. Movement of the cover may causepiercing elements to form inlet and/or outlet openings in the cartridge.Thus, fluid may be introduced into the cartridge by an inlet of thecover, and beverage may be received by a beverage outlet on the cover.As noted above, the inlet opening may be formed above the outletopening, and a seal may be formed with the cartridge at the inlet andoutlet openings, e.g., to help resist leakage of fluid and/or beverage.Beverage received from the cartridge may be conducted downwardly to auser's container, e.g., via a conduit or other flow pathway.

In one embodiment, a first or second cartridge may be provided in thecartridge holder, where the first and second cartridges have a differentsize and/or shape, e.g., where the cartridge holder engages with thecartridges. The step of receiving a beverage may include receiving abeverage that exits the cartridge in an upward direction if a firstcartridge is provided in the cartridge holder, and/or include receivinga beverage that exits the cartridge in a downward direction if a secondcartridge is provided in the cartridge holder.

In another aspect of the invention, a beverage forming apparatusincludes a frame arranged to support components of the beverage formingapparatus, and a cartridge holder arranged to receive a cartridge foruse in forming a beverage. A first detector may be arranged to detect apresence or absence of a cartridge in the cartridge holder, a seconddetector may be arranged to identify a type of cartridge in thecartridge holder, and a third detector may be arranged to detectinformation related to whether a cartridge is authorized for use withthe beverage forming apparatus. Thus, different characteristics of acartridge may be detected using separate detectors that performdifferent functions. A liquid supply system may be arranged to provide aliquid for combination with a beverage medium in a cartridge held by thecartridge holder to form a beverage, and may be controlled by a controlcircuit based on information from the first, second and third detectors.For example, if the first detector detects an absence of a cartridge,the control circuit may cause the apparatus to perform a cleaningoperation by which water is introduced into the cartridge holder toclean the holder and/or beverage flow paths. In one embodiment, thefirst detector may include an infrared sensor arranged to detect apresence or absence of a cartridge in the cartridge holder. In anotherexample, the second detector may include a movable element that moves inresponse placement of a cartridge of a first type in the cartridgeholder and remains stationary with placement of a cartridge of a secondtype in the cartridge holder. Detection of a first type of cartridge maycause the control circuit to adjust a temperature of water or otherliquid used to form a beverage and/or make other adjustment to beverageformation parameters, such as a volume of liquid, a timing of liquiddelivery to the cartridge, an addition of air to liquid delivered to thecartridge, and so on. In some embodiments, the third detector mayinclude a detector that detects a spectral response of a substance on acartridge in the cartridge holder to determine whether a cartridge isauthorized for use. For example, the cartridge may include an ink orother material that provides a specific spectral response to beingilluminated by a particular light. A circuit associated with the thirddetector and/or the control circuit may assess the spectral responsedetected from a cartridge and determine whether the cartridge isauthorized for use in forming a beverage. The use of such security inksis widespread in the fields of bank documents, currency, and otherproducts and will be well understood by those of skill in the art. Bydetermining the authenticity of a cartridge, the apparatus may ensurethat a suitable made and configured cartridge is used to form a beverageand that use of the cartridge will not harm the machine or cause userdissatisfaction, e.g., which may result with the use of an improperlyconfigured cartridge.

In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a cover arranged to cooperatewith the cartridge holder to at least partially enclose a cartridge heldby the cartridge holder for formation of a beverage using the cartridge.The first and third detectors may be mounted to the cover and arrangedto detect optical features of a cartridge in the cartridge holder. Thesecond detector may be arranged to contact a part of the cartridge heldin the cartridge holder, e.g., to detect the presence of a spout portionon the cartridge.

In another aspect of the invention, a method for forming a beverageusing a beverage forming apparatus includes providing a beverage formingapparatus including a cartridge holder arranged to support a cartridge,providing a cartridge in the cartridge holder, and detecting whether acartridge is present or absent in the cartridge holder using a firstdetector. A type of the cartridge in the cartridge holder may bedetected, and whether the cartridge in the cartridge holder isauthorized for use in forming a beverage may also be detected, e.g.,using second and third detectors. The detectors may be arranged asdiscussed above, and control of the system may be based on informationobtained by the detectors. A fluid may be provided to the cartridgeholder based on information from the first, second and third detectors,e.g., if a cartridge is detected in the holder, liquid may be providedonly if the cartridge is authorized for use.

These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Aspects of the invention are described below with reference to thefollowing drawings in which like numerals reference like elements, andwherein:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a beverage forming apparatus in anillustrative embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the FIG. 1 embodiment with thecartridge holder exposed to receive a cartridge;

FIG. 3 is a perspective side view of a cartridge holder arranged toreceive cartridges having different sizes;

FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of an engagement portion for thecartridge holder mechanism in the FIG. 3 embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a cartridge holder and cover in anillustrative embodiment;

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of a beverage cartridge in an illustrativeembodiment;

FIG. 7 is an assembled, cross-sectional view of the cartridge of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the FIG. 6 cartridge and optionalinlet and outlet locations for the cartridge;

FIG. 9 is perspective view of another beverage cartridge arrangementthat may be received by a cartridge holder also arranged to receive thecartridge of FIGS. 6-8;

FIG. 10 is schematic side view of a cartridge holder and cover in anillustrative embodiment in which different outlet ports are used fordifferent cartridges;

FIG. 11 is a schematic side view of the cartridge holder of FIG. 10illustrating how a different outlet port is used with a differentcartridge than that shown in FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a side view of a cartridge holder having an outlet port thatis pivotal about a vertical axis;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the FIG. 12 cartridge holder;

FIG. 14 is a side view of a cartridge holder having an outlet port thatis pivotal about a horizontal axis;

FIG. 15 is a partially exploded view of a cartridge holder employing theengagement portion of FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a cartridge holder, associated coverand components for moving the cover in an illustrative embodiment; and

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of components of a beverage formingapparatus in an illustrative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be understood that aspects of the invention are describedherein with reference to certain illustrative embodiments and thefigures. The illustrative embodiments described herein are notnecessarily intended to show all aspects of the invention, but ratherare used to describe a few illustrative embodiments. Thus, aspects ofthe invention are not intended to be construed narrowly in view of theillustrative embodiments. In addition, it should be understood thataspects of the invention may be used alone or in any suitablecombination with other aspects of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a perspective view of a beverage forming apparatus100 in an illustrative embodiment that incorporates aspects of theinvention. Although the beverage forming apparatus 100 may be used toform any suitable beverage, such as tea, coffee, other infusion-typebeverages, beverages formed from a liquid or powdered concentrate,soups, juices or other beverages made from dried materials, or other, inthis illustrative embodiment, the apparatus 100 is arranged to formcoffee or tea beverages. As is known in the art, a beverage cartridge 1may be provided to the apparatus 100 and used to form a beverage that isdeposited into a container 2, such as a cup. The cartridge 1 may bemanually or automatically placed in a cartridge holder 3 of a beverageforming station 11 of the beverage forming machine 10. For example, thecartridge holder 3 may be exposed to receive the cartridge 1 when theuser operates a handle 5 or other actuator. In this embodiment, movementof the handle 5 or other actuator may cause a cover 8 to move relativeto the cartridge holder 3 (or the cover 8 and holder 3 to otherwise moverelative to each other, e.g., by having the holder 3 move) to expose theholder 3 for reception of a cartridge 1. With the cartridge 1 placed inthe cartridge holder 3, the actuator 5 may be operated to at leastpartially enclose the cartridge 1, e.g., so that the cover 8 moves tocooperate with the holder 3 to at least partially enclose the cartridge1 so water or other precursor liquid can be introduced into thecartridge 1 to form a beverage. For example, with the cartridge 1 heldin the beverage forming station 11 by the cartridge holder 3, thecartridge 1 may be pierced to form inlet and outlet openings throughwhich water or other precursor liquid enters the cartridge 1 andbeverage that exits the cartridge 1, respectively. U.S. Pat. No.8,361,527 describes a cartridge and a system for introducing liquid intothe cartridge that may be used in embodiments of this invention, and ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Of course, aspects ofthe invention may be employed with any suitably arranged apparatus 100,including drip-type coffee brewers, carbonated beverage machines, andothers arranged to form a beverage regardless of how the beverage isformed. For example, a cartridge 1 may include any suitable materials toform a beverage, such as a carbon dioxide source used to carbonatewater, a beverage mix, etc.

In this embodiment, the beverage forming machine 10 includes a housing17 that houses and/or supports components of the machine 10, such as auser interface 14 used to control system operation, and defines acontainer receiving area 12 at which the container 2 is positionable toreceive beverage dispensed by the machine 10 via a beverage outlet.Thus, at the container receiving area 12, the container 2 is associatedwith the machine 10 to receive a dispensed beverage and may be supportedby the housing 17. The container 2 may be received at the containerreceiving area 12 so that the container 2 is at least partiallysurrounded by the housing 17, or the container 2 may be more exposedwhen at the container receiving area 12, as shown in FIG. 2.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a cartridge holder havingan opening arranged to receive and support a cartridge may be arrangedto receive cartridges of different sizes and/or shapes. In particular,the cartridges may have different sizes and/or shapes in a region wherethe cartridge holder engages with the cartridge to support the weight ofthe cartridge. For example, the cartridge holder may engage cartridgesat a rim (e.g., at or below a flange to which a lid of the cartridge isattached), and different cartridges may have different rim sizes and/orshapes. In some embodiments, the cartridge holder may include anengagement portion that engages with the cartridges to support thecartridges in the holder. The engagement portion may include one or moremovable portions that may move relative to each other to adjust a sizeand/or shape of an opening of the cartridge holder at which thecartridges are received. For example, the movable portions may beradially movable relative to each other so as to enlarge and/or reducethe size of the opening, or to adjust a shape of the opening. Themoveable portions of the engagement portion may be compliant, e.g.,include resilient sections that flex or otherwise resiliently deform toadjust the size of the opening so as to accommodate cartridges ofdifferent size/shape at the region where the engagement portion engageswith the cartridges. The parts of the engagement portion at the openingmay engage with a cartridge to support the weight of the cartridge orotherwise exert a force on the cartridge, e.g., to clamp the cartridgein place.

FIG. 3 shows a partial, close up view of a cartridge holder 3 that maybe employed in the FIGS. 1 and 2 embodiment. In this embodiment, anopening 31 of the cartridge holder 3 is oriented in an upwardly inclinedposition with the opening 31 facing toward a front of the machine 10. Inthis upwardly inclined position, an axis that is perpendicular to theplane of the opening 31 may be arranged at an angle above the horizontalof about 25 to 85 degrees, e.g., about 45 degrees. Such an orientationmay make placement of a cartridge in the holder easy and convenient fora user, e.g., the holder 3 may securely hold the cartridge 1 with thecover 8 in the open position. Thereafter, the handle 5 may be returnedto the position of FIG. 1, and in response the cover 8 may move to aclosed position, e.g., such that the cover 8 is positioned over theopening 31. Closing of the cover 8 may also cause one or more piercingelements to pierce the cartridge, e.g., to introduce liquid into thecartridge or allow beverage to exit. Note, however, that the cartridgeholder 3 need not be positioned in an upwardly inclined orientation, andinstead may be arranged in a horizontal, vertical, inverted or otherorientation. Also, the cartridge holder 3 may move relative to the cover8 and/or housing 17, e.g., in a horizontal, translational movement, in apivoting motion, etc. to open and close the beverage forming station 11.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the cartridge holder 3may include one or more moveable portions 32 that are movable to adjusta size of the opening 31 at which the cartridges are received andengaged by the cartridge holder 3. For example, in this embodiment, thecartridge holder 3 is arranged to receive both a first cartridge 1 a anda second cartridge 1 b that are different from each other, e.g., thefirst cartridge 1 a has a circular rim 19 with a diameter that is largerthan the diameter of the circular rim 19 of the second cartridge 1 b.The sizes of the rim diameters and the difference between the two may beany suitable value, e.g., one rim 19 may have diameter of about 50 mmand the other rim 19 diameter may be about 63 mm. The rim 19 diameter isrelevant in this embodiment because the cartridge holder 3 engages withthe cartridges 1 in a region at or near (e.g., just below) the rim 19.For example, the cartridge may be received into the opening 31 such thatan underside of the rim 19 rests on the movable portions 32. In caseswhere the cartridges 1 are engaged by the holder 3 in other regions,such as at a mid-section of the cartridges 1, at a bottom of thecartridges, etc., the cartridges 1 may be different in size and/or shapein these regions.

In this embodiment, the movable portions 32 are movable in a radialdirection as shown by the arrows so that the size of the opening 31 canbe adjusted to receive the differently sized cartridges 1 a, 1 b. Themovable portions 32 may move in any suitable way, such as being springbiased to move radially inwardly so that when the first and/or secondcartridge 1 a, 1 b is placed in the holder 3, the movable portions 32are pushed outwardly by the cartridge 1 a, 1 b sidewall 12 until the rim19 contacts the movable portions 32 or other stop. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 3, each of the movable portions 32 may be slidable in acorresponding slot of the cartridge holder 3, and a coil or other spring(not shown) may bias each of the movable portions 32 to move radiallyinwardly in the corresponding slot. A stop or other feature may limiteach movable portion's 32 radial movement, e.g., the movable portions 32may be normally biased to a position in which the movable portions 32define a size and/or shape of the opening 31 that corresponds to thesmaller second cartridge 1 b. Thus, when the second cartridge 1 b isplaced in the holder 3, the movable portions 32 need not move to allowthe holder to receive the second cartridge 1 b. However, the movableportions 32 may move radially to accept the larger first cartridge 1 a.

In other embodiments, the movable portions 32 may move in other ways,such as by a cam mechanism, screw drive, linkage, or other. For example,the movable portions may each have a cam follower pin that engages witha corresponding cam slot of a cam ring that extends around the opening31. When the cam ring is rotated, the cam slots may move the followerpins radially in/out, and thereby moving the movable portions in/out.Other arrangements are possible, such as a diaphragm or iris mechanismused to open/close a photographic camera diaphragm so as to control anamount of light entering the camera lens or a collet chuck arrangementused to hold drill bits in a hand-held drill. In such cases, thecartridge holder 3 may include a user-operable element, such as a knobor ring, that is movable to adjust a size and/or shape of the opening31.

In another embodiment, an engagement portion of the cartridge holder mayinclude one or more “finger” or wall portions that are arranged to moveto accommodate differently sized/shaped cartridges. For example, FIG. 4shows one embodiment of an engagement portion that includes five“fingers” or wall portions 32. The wall portions 32 are arrangedtogether to form a sort of basket in which the cartridges 1 are placed.Thus, the structure shown in FIG. 4 may be positioned in the cartridgeholder 3 such that top parts 32 a of the wall portions 32 define theopening 31 of the holder 3, e.g., the top parts 32 a may contact anunderside of the rim 19 of the cartridges 1. The wall portions 32 may bejoined together at a bottom of the engagement portion and include atleast one resilient portion that allows the wall portions 32 to flexoutwardly and/or inwardly so as to adjust a size and/or shape of theopening 31. For example, with the wall portions 32 at rest in anundeformed state, the smaller second cartridge 1 b may be received intothe opening 31 defined by the wall portions 32 with little or nomovement of the wall portions 32. However, when the larger firstcartridge 1 a is placed in the opening 31, the sidewall 12 of thecartridge 1 a may force the wall portions 32 to flex outwardly until theunderside of the rim 19 contacts the top parts 32 a of the wall portions32.

FIGS. 3 and 4 also illustrate another aspect of the invention, i.e.,that the cartridge holder may include one or more compliant portionsthat are resiliently deformable or otherwise movable to accommodatedifferently sized and/or shaped cartridges (at least in the region wherethe cartridges are engaged by the cartridge holder). That is, theengagement portion of FIG. 4 is compliant in that the wall portions 32can resiliently change shape to accommodate differently sized and shapedcartridges (the same is true of the spring-loaded movable portions 32 inFIG. 3). This can allow for simplified cartridge insertion into a holder3, e.g., because neither the machine nor user need take any specificaction to adjust the size and/or shape of the opening 31. Instead, theinteraction of the cartridge 1 with the cartridge holder 3 may itselfadjust the size and/or shape of the opening 31 due to the compliantnature of the engagement portion. Of course, other arrangements forcompliant movable portions 32 are possible, such as forming the movableportions in FIG. 3 of a foam or silicone material that deforms to adjusta size and/or shape of the opening 31.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, different inletand/or outlet ports at the cartridge holder may be used with differentcartridges to form a beverage. For example, in one embodiment, a firstoutlet port may be used to receive beverage from a first cartridge, anda second outlet port may be used to receive beverage from a secondcartridge. Such an arrangement may be useful, for example, when a firstcartridge type is configured to be pierced at a top for a beverageoutlet, and a second cartridge type is configured to be pierced at abottom for a beverage outlet. FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of aninlet and outlet port configuration that may be employed in anembodiment like that shown in FIG. 3 where a cartridge holder isarranged to receive cartridges of different sizes and/or shapes. As canbe seen in FIG. 5, the cover 8 of the beverage machine 10 may include aninlet port 50 and an outlet port 52 a, and may be pivotal about a coverpivot 81 between an open position (shown in dashed line) and a closedposition (shown in solid line). In this embodiment, the inlet and outletports 50, 52 a include piercing elements to pierce the cartridge 1 andform an opening, but piercing elements for either or both ports is notrequired. Instead, the cartridge 1 may have pre-formed inlet/outletopenings, or the openings may be formed by pressure applied to theoutside or inside of the cartridge. For example, water pressure may beapplied to the exterior of the cartridge 1 to form an inlet opening, andbeverage pressure inside the cartridge may form an outlet opening in thecartridge, e.g., a septum, burstable seal or other structure may open inresponse to pressure.

In this embodiment, when the larger first cartridge 1 a is received intothe cartridge holder 3 and the cover 8 is moved to the closed position,the inlet and outlet ports 50, 52 a may form openings in a top of thecartridge 1 a so that water or other fluid may be provided into thecartridge 1 a via the inlet port 50, and beverage may be received fromthe cartridge 1 a via the outlet port 52 a. However, a second outletport 52 b does not contact the first cartridge 1 a because the firstcartridge 1 a is not tall enough to contact the outlet second port 52 b.In contrast, when the second cartridge 1 b is received in the cartridgeholder 3, the inlet port 50 may form an opening in a top of thecartridge 1 b when the cover 8 is in the closed position, but the firstoutlet port 52 a does not penetrate the second cartridge 1 b because thesecond cartridge 1 b is smaller in diameter at the rim 19. Instead, thesecond outlet port 52 b may form an outlet opening in a bottom of thecartridge 1 b because in this embodiment, the second cartridge 1 b istaller than the first cartridge 1 a so that the piercing element of theoutlet port 52 b penetrates the second cartridge 1 b. Thus, beverageformed in the cartridge 1 b may flow to the second outlet port 52 b. Ofcourse, it will be understood that other inlet/outlet port arrangementsare possible for use with different cartridges and are not limited tothis illustrative embodiment. For example, the inlet and/or outlet portsmay introduce or receive fluid in any suitable locations relative to thecartridges, such as at the top, bottom, side or other locations of thecartridge, and may depend on the cartridge arrangements.

Another aspect of the invention relates to directing fluid, such assteam or water, into a cartridge in a downward direction and receivingbeverage from the cartridge in an upward direction. This arrangement isillustrated in FIG. 5 where the inlet 50 is arranged to direct fluidinto the cartridge in a downward direction (which in this embodiment isat an angle to the vertical, but is still arranged downwardly and couldbe arranged in a vertical direction if desired). Beverage exits thecartridge 1 a in an upward direction to the beverage outlet 52 a.(Beverage exits the cartridge 1 a at an angle to the vertical, but couldbe exit vertically if desired). In this embodiment, the beverage outlet52 a includes a piercing element that forms an outlet opening in thecartridge 1 a below a position where a piercing element of the inlet 50forms an inlet opening. This relative positioning may aid in removal ofbeverage from the cartridge 1 a, but is not required. Also, piercingelements are not required for the inlet 50 or outlet 52 a. In anotherembodiment, the cartridge 1 a could include an exit tube that extendsfrom near a bottom of the cartridge 1 a to where the cartridge 1 acommunicates with the outlet 52 a, e.g., so that beverage could beforced to flow up the exit tube and to the outlet 52 a. This may aid inremoving beverage from the cartridge, but is not required. Alternately,the outlet 52 a could include a tube or other element that extendsdownwardly into the cartridge to receive beverage.

Cartridges used with various cartridge holder embodiments may bearranged in different ways, and may depend at least in part on thenature of how a beverage medium in the cartridge is accessed to form abeverage. FIG. 6 shows an exploded view and FIG. 7 shows an assembledview of one cartridge embodiment that may be used in some embodiments.Details regarding such a cartridge are provided in U.S. Pat. No.8,361,527, which is hereby incorporated by reference. As will beunderstood, the cartridge 1 may contain any suitable beverage medium 20,e.g., ground coffee, tea leaves, dry herbal tea, powdered beverageconcentrate, dried fruit extract or powder, powdered or liquidconcentrated bouillon or other soup, powdered or liquid medicinalmaterials (such as powdered vitamins, drugs or other pharmaceuticals,nutriceuticals, etc.), and/or other beverage-making material (such aspowdered milk or other creamers, sweeteners, thickeners, flavorings, andso on).

In this illustrative embodiment, the cartridge 1 includes a container 12that includes an interior space 14 having a first chamber 14 a and asecond chamber 14 b that are separated by a filter 30. The container 12may have a frustoconical cup shape with a sidewall 17 and an opening 13,although other arrangements are possible, e.g., the container 12 mayhave a fluted, conical, or cylindrical shape, may be in the form of asquare or rectangular cup, a domed cup, a sphere or partial sphere, orother suitable form, may have a fluted, corrugated, or otherwise shapedsidewall, and so on. Also, the container 12 need not necessarily have adefined shape, as is the case with some beverage sachets and pods. Forexample, although the container 12 in this embodiment has a relativelyrigid and/or resilient construction so that the container 12 tends tomaintain its shape, the container 12 could be made to have a morecompliant and/or deformable arrangement, e.g., like a sachet containermade from a sheet of deformable material. Thus, an interior spacedefined by the container 12 may be formed only after the containermaterial is formed around a beverage medium, filter and/or othercartridge components, similar to when two filter paper layers (containermaterial) are joined together around a charge of coffee grounds to forma pod or other form of cartridge.

The opening 13 may be closed by a lid 38, e.g., a flexible sheet of foiland polymer laminate material that is attached to a rim 19 of thecontainer 12. (Although in this embodiment the rim 19 is arranged as anannular flange-like element, the rim 19 may be arranged in other ways.For example, the rim 19 may be the top edge of the sidewall 17 withoutany flange element.) The filter 30 may be attached to the lid 38 at aperiphery 32 that is spaced inwardly and away from the rim 19, e.g., forreasons discussed more below. In addition, the filter 30 may extend fromthe periphery 32 at least partially into the interior space 14. In thisillustrative embodiment, the filter 30 may have a substantiallyfrustoconical shape with fluted or pleated sidewalls and a generallyflat bottom 31, as shown. However, the filter 30 may have any suitableshape, such as a cylindrical shape, a square cup shape, a domed shape, aflat sheet, or other. Also, the use of a filter 30 is not necessary, andinstead the cartridge 1 may be filterless.

When using the cartridge 1 to form a beverage, the lid 38 and/or thecontainer 12 may be pierced to introduce liquid into the cartridge andreceive beverage from the cartridge. (As used herein, “beverage” refersto a liquid substance intended for drinking that is formed when a liquidinteracts with a beverage medium. Thus, beverage refers to a liquid thatis ready for consumption, e.g., is dispensed into a cup and ready fordrinking, as well as a liquid that will undergo other processes ortreatments, such as filtering or the addition of flavorings, creamer,sweeteners, another beverage, etc., before being consumed.) To introduceliquid into the cartridge, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, a portion ofthe lid 38 generally circumscribed by the periphery 32 may be pierced byan inlet piercing element 50 (e.g., a needle) so that water or otherliquid may be injected into the cartridge 1. Other inlet piercingarrangements are possible, such as multiple needles, a shower head, anon-hollow needle, a cone, a pyramid, a knife, a blade, etc. A beveragemachine that uses the cartridge may include multiple piercing elementsof the same type or of different types, as the invention is not limitedin this respect. In another arrangement, a beverage machine may includea piercing element (such as a spike) that forms an opening andthereafter a second inlet element (such as a tube) may pass through theformed hole to introduce liquid into (or conduct liquid out of) thecontainer. In other embodiments, the lid 38 may be pierced, or otherwiseeffectively opened for flow, by introducing pressure at an exterior ofthe lid 38. For example, a water inlet may be pressed and sealed to thelid 38 exterior and water pressure introduced at the site. The waterpressure may cause the lid 38 to be pierced or otherwise opened to allowflow into the cartridge 1. In another arrangement, the lid 38 mayinclude a valve, conduit or other structure that opens when exposed to asuitable pressure and/or when mated with a water inlet tube or otherstructure. Fluid introduced into the cartridge 1 may be slowed,distributed or otherwise acted on by a flow distributor 33, e.g., anelement with holes to help more evenly wet the beverage medium 20.

The cartridge 1 may also be penetrated by an outlet piercing element 52b (e.g., a needle) at a bottom 16 of the container 12, or by an outletpiercing element 52 a at a second portion of the lid 38 outside of theperiphery 32 and apart from the inlet opening. As with the inletpiercing arrangement, the outlet piercing arrangement may be varied inany suitable way. Thus, the outlet piercing element 52 may include oneor more hollow or solid needles, knives, blades, tubes, and so on.Alternately, the cartridge 1 may include a valve, septum or otherelement that opens to permit beverage to exit when liquid is introducedinto the cartridge, but otherwise remains closed (e.g., to protect thebeverage medium from external conditions such as oxygen, moisture orothers). In such a case, no piercing element for forming the outletopening is necessarily required although may be used, e.g., to allow thevalve or other element to open. Also, in this illustrative embodimentthe piercing element 52 remains in place to receive beverage as it exitsthe opening formed in the container 12 or lid 38. However, in otherembodiments, the piercing element 52 may withdraw after forming anopening, allowing beverage to exit the opening and be received withoutthe piercing element 52 being extended into the cartridge 1.

It should be understood that while a cartridge arranged like that inFIGS. 6-8 may be used in an embodiment like that in FIGS. 3 and 5, othercartridge types are possible, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos.6,607,762; 6,645,537; 6,589,577 and others. Also, it should beappreciated that cartridges that can be received by a cartridge holder 3may differ in shape, in addition to, or instead of, size (at least in aregion where the cartridges are engaged by the cartridge holder tosupport the cartridge). For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,361,527 alsodescribes a cartridge with an irregular rim shape, which is shown inFIG. 9. In this embodiment, the cartridge 1 is arranged similarly tothat in FIGS. 6-8, but the container 12 has a rim 19 with a circularportion 19 a and a spout portion 19 b that extends from the circularportion 19 a. Thus, the rim 19 has an irregular shape, and the cartridgeholder 3 may be arranged to not only accommodate a larger overall rimsize of the cartridge 1, but also the irregular shape of the rim 19.

The example of FIG. 5 is only one that illustrates how different inletand/or outlet ports 50, 52 may be used for different cartridges. Thatis, in accordance with another aspect of the invention, one or moreinlet or outlet ports 52 may be movable to exchange fluid, or not, witha cartridge in the holder 3. For example, a beverage outlet associatedwith the cartridge holder may movable between first and second positionsto receive, or not receive, beverage from a cartridge. In someembodiments, a beverage outlet may be movable between positions in whichthe outlet is located within a cartridge receiving area, or outside of acartridge receiving area depending on a type of cartridge that isreceived in the cartridge holder. For example, different cartridges mayhave different sizes and/or shapes, and a beverage outlet may be movableto receive beverage, or not, based on the cartridge received in theholder.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate an embodiment in which a beverage outlet ismovable depending on a type of cartridge received in a cartridge holder.FIG. 10 shows a schematic side view of the cartridge holder 3 of FIG. 3with a second cartridge 1 b having a relatively smaller,circularly-shaped rim diameter (e.g., as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7) receivedin the holder 3. In contrast, FIG. 11 shows a schematic side view of thecartridge holder 3 of FIG. 3 with a first cartridge 1 a having arelatively larger rim diameter and an irregular rim shape (e.g., as seenin FIG. 9) received in the holder 3. The view in FIG. 10 is similar tothat shown in FIG. 5 for the second cartridge 1 b. That is, the secondcartridge 1 b, which has a relatively small circular rim 19 in thisembodiment, is pierced at the top by the inlet port 50 to accommodatedownward inflow of fluid into the cartridge 1 b, and pierced at thebottom by the second outlet port 52 b to accommodate downward outflow ofbeverage from the cartridge 1 b.

However, with the first cartridge 1 a held in the cartridge holder 3,the top of the cartridge is pierced by both the inlet port 50 and thefirst outlet port 52 a. The first cartridge 1 a may be pierced by thefirst outlet port 52 a at an area of the lid 38 which is located in thespout area near the spout portion 19 b of the rim 19, although otherareas of the lid are possible. Inclining the cartridge holder 3 andcartridge 1 a such that the spout portion 19 b is at a lower end of thecartridge 1 a may aid in removing beverage from the cartridge 1 a, sincebeverage may collect in the spout area for outflow in an upwarddirection.

Note that while in the FIG. 5 embodiment, the first cartridge 1 a is tooshort to contact the second outlet port 52 b, this need not be the caseand the first cartridge 1 a may be made taller. In such a case, thesecond outlet port 52 b may be moved out of a cartridge receiving spaceor area so that the port 52 b can avoid contact with the cartridge 1 a.Such movement may be accomplished in different ways, such as by amotorized drive, a linkage, having a user physically move one of theports into/out of a cartridge receiving area, and others. In one aspectof the invention, one or more ports may be selected for use with acartridge based on one or more features of the cartridge that isinserted into the cartridge holder 3. For example, insertion of acartridge having a relatively larger rim diameter may cause the secondoutlet port 52 b to be moved out of a cartridge receiving area so as toavoid potential contact with the cartridge 1. In other embodiments,insertion of a particular cartridge type may release a port formovement, e.g., insertion of the larger rim cartridge may release thesecond outlet port 52 b so that the cartridge 1 a may contact the secondoutlet port 52 b and move it.

For example, FIGS. 12 and 13 show an illustrative embodiment in whichinsertion of a cartridge having a spout, such as that shown in FIG. 9,causes the second outlet port 52 b to move out of a cartridge receivingarea. In this embodiment, one of the movable portions 32, e.g., atrigger 33, may contact the spout area of the cartridge 1 a and be movedradially outwardly, i.e., to the right in FIGS. 12 and 13. The trigger33 may be coupled to the second outlet port 52 b by a linkage thatcauses the second outlet port 52 b to pivot about an axis 53 as thesliding portion 32 is moved radially outwardly. This may move the secondoutlet port 52 b out of an area of potential contact with the cartridge1 a. The trigger 33 may be spring loaded such that when the firstcartridge 1 a having a spout is removed from the cartridge holder 3, thetrigger 33 may move radially inwardly, allowing the second outlet port52 b to pivot back into a cartridge receiving area. Thus, if a secondcartridge 1 b is inserted into the holder 3 having no spout, the trigger33 may remain stationary, and the second outlet port 52 b may pierce thesecond cartridge 1 b at its bottom or other suitable location. Thesecond outlet port 52 b may include or be connected to a conduit toconduct beverage from the second cartridge 1 b to a dispensing area ofthe beverage forming machine 10, or beverage may simply exit thecartridge 1 b without being conducted by a conduit. Thus, a beverageoutlet or outlet port need not include a conduit to conduct beverage,but rather may be arranged in any suitable way to permit beverage toexit a cartridge.

In another embodiment, movement of the trigger or other part of thecartridge holder 3 may release one or more ports for movement, e.g.,based on contact with a cartridge, so that the port does not pierce orotherwise interact with the cartridge to exchange fluid. For example,FIG. 14 shows an embodiment in which a trigger 33 like that in FIGS. 12and 13 may be moved by a contact with a spout of a first cartridge 1 a.Movement of the trigger 33 may release the second outlet port 52 b formovement upon contact with the cartridge 1 a so that the second outletport 52 b does not substantially resist movement. For example, with thefirst cartridge 1 a inserted into the cartridge holder 3, a bottom ofthe first cartridge 1 a may contact the second outlet port 52 b andpivot the port 52 b about a horizontal axis 54 so the port 52 b movesout of a cartridge receiving area and does not pierce the cartridge 1 a.However, if a second cartridge 1 b is inserted into the cartridge holder3, the lack of movement of the trigger 33 may lock the second outletport 52 b in place so that it pierces or otherwise interacts with thesecond cartridge 1 b to receive beverage. In this embodiment, thetrigger 33 is linked to a latch 331 that engages with the second outletport 52 b to prevent pivoting of the port 52 b about the axis 54 whenthe trigger 33 is positioned to the left. However, movement of thetrigger 33 to the right disengages the latch 331 from the port 52 b,allowing the port 52 b to pivot about the axis 54. The trigger 33 may bespring loaded to move to the left as shown in FIG. 14; thus, the latch331 may normally engage the port 52 b unless the trigger 33 is moved,e.g., by a first cartridge 1 a.

Although the examples above show and describe embodiments in which onlyone outlet port is moved, other arrangements are possible, such as wheretwo or more outlet ports are moved, one or more inlet ports are moved,or other combinations of inlet/outlet selections are made. Also,movement of inlets and/or outlets may be effected by a motor drive orother mechanism, and may be controlled by based on reading of a machinereadable feature or other indicia on a cartridge. For example, themachine 10 may read an RFID tag, barcode, etc., on a cartridge 1, andmake suitable port selections based on a cartridge type or otherinformation associated with the identified cartridge 1.

FIGS. 15 and 16 show an exploded view and an assembled view of acartridge holder, associated cover, handle actuator and other selectedcomponents of a beverage forming apparatus 10. In this embodiment, theengagement portion of the cartridge holder 3 includes a plurality ofmovable portions 32 in the form of “fingers” or wall portions that arejoined together at a bottom of the engagement portion, as in FIG. 4.This embodiment also includes a trigger 33 to cause and/or allowmovement of an outlet port from a cartridge receiving area. That is,this embodiment is arranged to receive both a first cartridge 1 a thathas an irregular rim having a circular portion and spout portion, and asecond cartridge 1 b that has a circular rim with a diameter smallerthan that of the circular portion of the first cartridge 1 a. Contact ofthe spout area of the first cartridge 1 a with the trigger 33 causes thetrigger 33 to move radially outwardly, releasing the second outlet port52 b for movement (or actually moving the second outlet port 52 b). Notethat the wall portions 32 of the engagement portion are arranged toprovide a suitable opening for the second outlet port 52 b to moveinto/out of the cartridge receiving area as needed.

As can be seen in FIG. 15, the engagement portion is received into ahole 35 in a portion of the frame 6 that helps define the cartridgeholder 3. In this embodiment, the engagement portion is supported in thehole 35 so that the wall portions 32 located opposite the trigger 33have a smaller range of radial motion than wall portions 32 locatednearer the trigger 33. That is, one or more wall portions 32 oppositethe trigger 33 may be permitted to move radially outwardly to someextent, but then contact the hole 35 or other part of the frame 6 so thewall portion(s) 32 are prevented from further outward radial movement.This may help the cartridge holder 3 to urge a cartridge 1 a having aspout section into proper contact with the trigger 33 and move thetrigger 33 suitably radially outwardly. In addition, this may help thecartridge holder 3 to properly position the cartridge 1 a for alignmentwith an inlet and outlet port 50, 52 a. That is, the trigger 33 may bebiased to move radially inwardly by a spring or other resilient elementof suitable strength so that insertion of the cartridge having a spoutsection causes the wall portion(s) 32 opposite the trigger 33 to flexoutwardly and contact the hole 35 or other stop of radial movementbefore the cartridge 1 a is fully inserted into the opening 31. Furtherinsertion of the cartridge 1 a may then cause the trigger 33 to slideoutwardly because the wall portion(s) 32 opposite the trigger 33 areprevented from further outward radial movement. This may ensure that thecartridge 1 is properly positioned for piercing by an inlet and/oroutlet piercing element.

FIG. 16 also shows how in this embodiment the cover 8 may be movedrelative to the cartridge holder 3. The cover 8 is arranged for pivotalmovement relative to the frame 6 about a cover pivot 61 based onmovement of a handle 5 which is pivotally mounted to the cover 8 at ahandle pivot 63. A plate 81 is also pivotally mounted to the frame 6about a plate pivot 62 and moves based on movement of the handle 5. Theplate 81 operates to contact a cartridge 1 placed in the cartridgeholder 3, and push the cartridge 1 into the holder 3 so that thecartridge 1 is fully received into the holder 3 before the cover 8engages the cartridge 1. This helps ensure that the cartridge 1 is fullyseated in the holder 3 before piercing elements on the cover 8 piercethe cartridge 1. A pivot pin 64 of the handle 5 is engaged with a slot82 of the plate 81 and moves in a cam slot 65 of the frame 6 so that asthe handle 5 is pivoted about the handle pivot 63 from an open position(shown in FIG. 16) to a closed position, the pivot pin 64 moves in thecam slot 65, thereby pivoting the plate 81 about the plate pivot 62toward the cartridge holder 3. At the same time, the cover 8 is pivotedabout the cover pivot 63 to move toward the cartridge holder 3. Theplate 81 is arranged to contact a cartridge 1 in the holder 3 before thecover 8, forcing the cartridge 1 to be seated into the holder 3. Thisaction may cause movable portions 32 of the engagement portion to moveas needed to receive the cartridge 1. Further movement of the handle 5toward the closed position causes the pivot pin 64 to move furtherdownwardly in the cam slot 65 so the cover 8 engages the cartridge 1. Inthis embodiment, piercing elements at the inlet and/or outlet ports 50,52 a may pierce the cartridge 1, although such piercing elements are notrequired. With the handle 5 at a closed position, the pivot pin 64 maymove into a “J” shaped section of the cam slot 65 which effectivelylocks the cover 8 and the plate 81 in place over the cartridge holder 3.Lifting of the handle 5 from the closed position reverses movement ofthe pivot pin 64 in the cam slot 65, thereby pivoting the cover 8 andplate 81 to the open positions.

FIG. 17 shows a schematic block diagram of various components that maybe included in a beverage forming apparatus 100 in one illustrativeembodiment. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that a beverageforming apparatus 100 may be configured in a variety of different ways,and thus aspects of the invention should not be narrowly interpreted asrelating only to one type of beverage forming apparatus. In thisembodiment, water or other precursor liquid may be provided by a liquidsupply 15 to mix with a beverage material at a beverage forming station11. The beverage material (such as coffee grounds, tea leaves, apowdered drink mix, etc.) may be provided in a cartridge 1, or not, andbeverage produced by mixing the liquid with the beverage material may bedispensed into the container 2 via a beverage outlet.

The liquid supply 15 in this embodiment controls the volume of liquidprovided to the beverage forming station 11 by filling the tank to aliquid dispense level 159, 160 and then pressurizing the tank 152 by wayof an air pump 154 so that liquid in the tank 152 is forced out of theconduit 156 to the beverage forming station 11. The volume of liquiddelivered to the beverage forming station 11 is equal to the volume inthe tank 152 between the liquid delivery level 159, 160 and apost-delivery level 158 at a bottom of the conduit 156 in the tank 152.Since there are two delivery levels 159, 160 in this embodiment, twodifferent volumes can be provided to the beverage forming station 11.However, more than two levels, or a single level, may be used.

In this embodiment, the liquid supply 15 provides liquid to the tank 152via a valve 151 that is coupled to a source W. The source W may have anysuitable arrangement, e.g., may provide liquid from a removable or fixedstorage tank, a mains water supply or other source. Thus, in some cases,the liquid provided to the tank 152 may vary in temperature by a widedegree depending on various factors, such as time of year, a temperatureof a room in which the machine 10 is located, etc. For example, if thesource W is a reservoir that is filled by a user, the temperature ofliquid in the reservoir may vary between room temperature (e.g., ifliquid sits in the reservoir for an extended time) and a coolertemperature (e.g., if the reservoir has just been filled with water thatis dispensed from a tap).

To provide liquid to the tank 152 in this embodiment, the valve 151 iscontrolled by the control circuit 16 to open and close to provide adesired volume of liquid to the tank 152. For example, if the tank 152is empty or at the post-dispense level 158, the valve 151 may be openeduntil a conductive probe or other liquid level sensor 157 provides asignal to the control circuit 16 that indicates when liquid arrives atthe dispense level 159, 160. In response to the level sensor 157detecting liquid at the sensor 157, the control circuit 16 may close thevalve 151. Of course, other arrangements are possible, such using a pumpto move liquid from a storage reservoir to the tank 152.

Although in this embodiment the liquid level sensor includes a pair ofconductive probes capable of contacting liquid in the tank 152 andproviding a signal (e.g., a resistance change) indicative of liquidbeing present at respective dispense levels 159 or 160 in the tank 152,the liquid level sensor may be arranged in other ways. For example, thesensor may include a microswitch with an attached float that rises withliquid level in the tank 152 to activate the switch. In anotherembodiment, the liquid level sensor may detect a capacitance changeassociated with one or more liquid levels in the tank, may use anoptical emitter/sensor arrangement (such as an LED and photodiode) todetect a change in liquid level, may use a pressure sensor, may use afloating magnet and Hall effect sensor to detect a level change, andothers. Thus, the liquid level sensor is not necessarily limited to aconductive probe configuration. Moreover, the liquid level sensor mayinclude two or more different types sensors to detect different levelsin the tank. For example, a pressure sensor may be used to detect liquidat the dispense level 160 (e.g., complete filling of the tank 152 maycoincide with a sharp rise in pressure in the tank 152), while aconductive probe may be used to detect liquid at the other dispenselevel 159.

Further, a liquid level sensor need not be used to fill the tank to thedispense level 159, 160. Instead, other techniques may be used tosuitably fill the tank 152, such as opening the valve 151 for a definedperiod of time that is found to correspond to approximate filling of thetank 152 to the desired level. Of course, other arrangements forproviding liquid to the tank 152 are possible, such as by a pump (e.g.,a centrifugal pump, piston pump, solenoid pump, diaphragm pump, etc.),gravity feed, or other, and the way by which the tank is filled to thedispense level 159, 160 may depend on the technique used to provideliquid to the tank. For example, control of a volume of liquid providedto fill the tank 152 to the dispense level 159, 160 may be performed byrunning a pump for a predetermined time, detecting a flow rate or volumeof liquid entering the tank 152 (e.g., using a flow meter), operating apump for a desired number of cycles (such as where the pump is arrangedto deliver a known volume of liquid for each cycle), detecting apressure rise in the tank 152 using a pressure sensor, or using anyother viable technique.

Liquid in the tank 152 may be heated by way of a heating element 153whose operation is controlled by the control circuit 16 using input froma temperature sensor or other suitable input. Of course, heating of theliquid is not necessary, and instead (or additionally) the apparatus 100may include a chiller to cool the liquid, a carbonator to carbonate theliquid, or otherwise condition the liquid in a way that alters thevolume of liquid in the tank 152. (Generally speaking, components of theliquid supply 15 that heat, cool, carbonate or otherwise conditionliquid supplied to the beverage forming station 11 are referred to as a“liquid conditioner.”)

In this embodiment, liquid may be discharged from the tank 152 by an airpump 154 operating to force air into the tank 152 to pressurize the tankand force liquid to flow in the conduit 156 to the beverage formingstation 11. Since the conduit extends downwardly into the tank 152, thevolume of liquid delivered to the forming station 11 is defined as thevolume in the tank 152 between the dispense level 159, 160 and thebottom end of the conduit 156. Again, liquid may be caused to flow fromthe tank 152 to the beverage forming station 11 in other ways. Forexample, a pump may be used to pump liquid from the tank 152 to theforming station 11, liquid may be allowed to flow by gravity from thetank 152, and others. A vent 155, which can be opened or closed to ventthe tank 152, may be provided to allow the tank 152 to be filled withoutcausing a substantial rise in pressure in the tank 152 and to allowliquid to be delivered from the tank 152 by pressurizing the tank usingthe air pump 154. In this embodiment, the vent 155 is actually notcontrolled by the control circuit 16, but remains always open with anorifice of suitable size to allow venting for filling of the tank 152,and air pressure buildup in the tank 152 to allow liquid delivery. Otherflow control features may be provided as well, such as a check valve orother flow controller that can prevent backflow in the conduit betweenthe source W and the tank 152, or between the tank 152 and the beverageforming station 11.

The beverage forming station 11 may use any beverage making ingredient,such as ground coffee, tea, a flavored drink mix, or other beveragemedium, e.g., contained in a cartridge 1 or not. Alternately, thebeverage forming station 11 may function simply as an outlet for heated,cooled or otherwise conditioned water or other liquid, e.g., where abeverage medium is contained in the container 2. Once liquid deliveryfrom the tank 156 to the station 11 is complete, the air pump 154 (orother air pump) may be operated to force air into the conduit 156 topurge liquid from the beverage forming station 11, at least to someextent.

Operation of the valve 151, air pump 154 and other components of theapparatus 100 may be controlled by the control circuit 16, e.g., whichmay include a programmed processor and/or other data processing devicealong with suitable software or other operating instructions, one ormore memories (including non-transient storage media that may storesoftware and/or other operating instructions), temperature and liquidlevel sensors, pressure sensors, input/output interfaces, communicationbuses or other links, a display, switches, relays, triacs, or othercomponents necessary to perform desired input/output or other functions.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the beverage formingapparatus may include multiple detectors to detect characteristics of acartridge received in the cartridge holder. Operation of the apparatus100 may be controlled by the control circuit 16 based on informationdetected by the detectors. For example, in the embodiment shown in FIG.17, the apparatus includes first, second and third detectors 161, 162,163 that each detect a different characteristic regarding a cartridge 1in the cartridge holder 3. A first detector 161 may detect the presenceor absence of a cartridge 1, e.g., may include an infrared detector thatilluminates an area of the cartridge holder 3 with infrared light anddetects whether infrared light is reflected by a cartridge or not.Detection of a suitable amount or other level of reflected light may beused to determine that a cartridge 1 is present, whereas no or lowerlight levels may indicate the absence of a cartridge. Such an infrareddetector may include an infrared emitter and a photodetector or othersuitable element(s). Other detector arrangements are possible, such asmechanical switches, a bar code reader, an RFID interrogator, etc.

A second detector 162 may detect a type of cartridge, e.g., may detectwhether a cartridge includes a spout portion or not. The second detectormay be arranged in a variety of different ways, and in one embodimentmay include the trigger 33 of FIGS. 12-16 and a switch to detectmovement of the trigger 33. For example, the trigger 33 may include amagnet that moves with the trigger 33 and a reed or other suitableswitch may detect the presence or absence of the magnet, therebydetecting movement of the trigger 33. Other arrangements for the seconddetector 162 are possible, such as an optical detector, bar code reader,etc.

The third detector 163 may detect information related to whether acartridge is authorized for use with the beverage forming apparatus, andmay include a bar code reader, a camera or other image capture devicewith image analysis capability, an RFID interrogator, and others. Inthis illustrative embodiment, the third detector 163 includes anillumination element that illuminates a portion of a cartridge withsuitable light, e.g., one or more LED sources may illuminate a cartridgewith light having any suitable set of wavelengths. The third detector163 may also include a light detector that is arranged to detect lightemitted and/or reflected by a cartridge portion and assess whether thelight detected is consistent with an authorized cartridge. For example,authorized cartridges may carry a security ink or other material thatprovides a specific spectral response to being illuminated by certainlight. The third detector 163 may detect whether the spectral responseis present, and if so, indicate that the cartridge is authorized for usein forming a beverage.

The control circuit 16 may control operation of the liquid supply 15and/or other portions of the apparatus 100 based on information detectedby the first, second and/or third detectors 161, 162, 163. For example,if no cartridge is detected by the first detector 161 and an operatorpresses a brew indication button, the control circuit 16 may cause theapparatus 100 to perform a cleaning operation by which the cartridgeholder 3 and/or other parts of the apparatus 100 are cleaned. However,if a cartridge 1 is detected, the control circuit 16 may cause thedisplay of beverage forming options to a user at the user interface 14,may start a beverage creation cycle, may begin heating of water in thetank 152, etc. As another example, if the second detector 162 detects aparticular type of cartridge, the control circuit 162 may control thesystem to adjust beverage forming parameters in some way, e.g., byadjusting a heating temperature, an amount of liquid used to make abeverage, displaying and requiring particular user input to form abeverage, and so on. The control circuit 16 may prevent all or certainones of beverage production processes if a cartridge is not detected bythe third detector 163 to be an authorized one. Instead, the controlcircuit 16 may only permit a cleaning operation, provided no cartridgeis detected in the cartridge holder. Alternately, the control circuit 16may cause the apparatus to perform a default beverage process, e.g.,including a specific set of brew water temperature, volume, deliverytime, etc.

While aspects of the invention may be used with any suitable cartridge,or no cartridge at all, some cartridges may include features thatenhance the operation of a beverage forming apparatus 100. As is knownin the art, the cartridge 1 may take any suitable form such as thosecommonly known as a sachet, pod, capsule, container or other. Forexample, the cartridge 1 may include an impermeable outer coveringwithin which is housed a beverage medium, such as roasted and groundcoffee or other. The cartridge 1 may also include a filter so that abeverage formed by interaction of the liquid with the beverage mediumpasses through the filter before being dispensed into a container 2. Aswill be understood by those of skill in the art, cartridges in the formof a pod (e.g., having opposed layers of permeable filter paperencapsulating a beverage medium) may use the outer portion of thecartridge 1 to filter the beverage formed. The cartridge 1 in thisexample may be used in a beverage machine to form any suitable beveragesuch as tea, coffee, other infusion-type beverages, beverages formedfrom a liquid or powdered concentrate, etc. Thus, the cartridge 1 maycontain any suitable beverage medium, e.g., ground coffee, tea leaves,dry herbal tea, powdered beverage concentrate, dried fruit extract orpowder, powdered or liquid concentrated bouillon or other soup, powderedor liquid medicinal materials (such as powdered vitamins, drugs or otherpharmaceuticals, nutriaceuticals, etc.), and/or other beverage-makingmaterial (such as powdered milk or other creamers, sweeteners,thickeners, flavorings, and so on). In one illustrative embodiment, thecartridge 1 contains a beverage medium that is configured for use with amachine that forms coffee and/or tea beverages, however, aspects of theinvention are not limited in this respect.

As used herein, “beverage” refers to a liquid substance intended fordrinking that is formed when a liquid interacts with a beverage medium.Thus, beverage refers to a liquid that is ready for consumption, e.g.,is dispensed into a cup and ready for drinking, as well as a liquid thatwill undergo other processes or treatments, such as filtering or theaddition of flavorings, creamer, sweeteners, another beverage, etc.,before being consumed.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of thisinvention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications,and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Suchalterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part ofthis disclosure, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings areby way of example only.

What is claimed is: 1-50. (canceled)
 51. A beverage forming apparatus,comprising: a frame arranged to support components of the beverageforming apparatus; a cartridge holder arranged to receive a cartridgefor use in forming a beverage; a first detector arranged to detect apresence or absence of a cartridge in the cartridge holder; a seconddetector arranged to identify a type of cartridge in the cartridgeholder; a third detector arranged to detect information related towhether a cartridge is authorized for use with the beverage formingapparatus; and a liquid supply system at least partially supported bythe frame arranged to provide a liquid for combination with a beveragemedium in a cartridge held by the cartridge holder to form a beverage.52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the first detector includes aninfrared sensor arranged to detect a presence or absence of a cartridgein the cartridge holder.
 53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein thesecond detector includes a movable element that moves in responseplacement of a cartridge of a first type in the cartridge holder andremains stationary with placement of a cartridge of a second type in thecartridge holder.
 54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the seconddetector includes a magnet mounted to the movable element, and a switchthat opens or closes in response to movement of the magnet with themovable element.
 55. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the thirddetector includes a detector that detects a spectral response of asubstance on a cartridge in the cartridge holder to determine whether acartridge is authorized for use.
 56. The apparatus of claim 51, furthercomprising a cover arranged to cooperate with the cartridge holder to atleast partially enclose a cartridge held by the cartridge holder forformation of a beverage using the cartridge.
 57. The apparatus of claim56, wherein the first and third detectors are mounted to the cover. 58.The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising a control circuit tocontrol operation of the liquid supply system based on information fromthe first, second and third detectors.
 59. A method for forming abeverage using a beverage forming apparatus, comprising: providing abeverage forming apparatus including a cartridge holder arranged tosupport a cartridge; providing a cartridge in the cartridge holder;detecting whether a cartridge is present or absent in the cartridgeholder using a first detector; detecting a type of the cartridge in thecartridge holder; detecting whether the cartridge in the cartridgeholder is authorized for use in forming a beverage; and providing afluid to the cartridge holder based on information from the first,second and third detectors.
 60. The method of claim 59, wherein thefirst detector includes an infrared sensor arranged to detect a presenceor absence of a cartridge in the cartridge holder.
 61. The method ofclaim 59, wherein the second detector includes a movable element thatmoves in response placement of a cartridge of a first type in thecartridge holder and remains stationary with placement of a cartridge ofa second type in the cartridge holder.
 62. The method of claim 59,wherein the second detector includes a magnet mounted to the movableelement, and a switch that opens or closes in response to movement ofthe magnet with the movable element.
 63. The method of claim 59, whereinthe third detector includes a detector that detects a spectral responseof a substance on a cartridge in the cartridge holder to determinewhether a cartridge is authorized for use.
 64. The method of claim 59,further comprising moving a cover arranged to cooperate with thecartridge holder to at least partially enclose a cartridge held by thecartridge holder for formation of a beverage using the cartridge. 65.The method of claim 59, wherein the first and third detectors aremounted to the cover.
 66. The method of claim 59, further comprisingusing a control circuit to control the providing of fluid to thecartridge holder based on information from the first, second and thirddetectors.